Concentrations of Metals in Water Sediment Biofi

Authors: Aïda M Farag David A Nimick Briant A Kimball Stanley E Church David D Harper William G Brumbaugh

Publish Date: 2007/01/11

Volume: 52, Issue: 3, Pages: 397-409

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Abstract

To characterize the partitioning of metals in a stream ecosystem concentrations of trace metals including As Cd Cu Pb and Zn were measured in water colloids sediment biofilm also referred to as aufwuchs macroinvertebrates and fish collected from the Boulder River watershed Montana Median concentrations of Cd Cu and Zn in water throughout the watershed exceeded the US EPA acute and chronic criteria for protection of aquatic life Concentrations of As Cd Cu Pb and Zn in sediment were sufficient in the tributaries to cause invertebrate toxicity The concentrations of As Cu Cd Pb and Zn in invertebrates from lower Cataract Creek 63 339 59 34 and 2410 μg/g dry wt respectively were greater than the concentrations in invertebrates from the Clark Fork River watershed Montana 19 174 23 15 and 648 μg/g respectively that were associated with reduced survival growth and health of cutthroat trout fed diets composed of those invertebrates Colloids and biofilm seem to play a critical role in the pathway of metals into the food chain and concentrations of As Cu Pb and Zn in these two components are significantly correlated We suggest that transfer of metals associated with Fe colloids to biological components of biofilm is an important pathway where metals associated with abiotic components are first available to biotic components The significant correlations suggest that Cd Cu and Zn may move independently to biota biofilm invertebrates or fish tissues from water and sediment The possibility exists that Cd Cu and Zn concentrations increase in fish tissues as a result of direct contact with water and sediment and indirect exposure through the food chain However uptake through the food chain to fish may be more important for As Although As concentrations in colloids and biofilm were significantly correlated with As water concentrations As concentrations in fish tissues were not correlated with water The pathway for Pb into biological components seems to begin with sediment because concentrations of Pb in water were not significantly correlated with any other component and because concentrations of Pb in the water were often below detection limitsWe are grateful to Tom Cleasby Jack Goldstein Brad Mueller Darren Rhea and other USGS staff for excellent technical assistance and to two anonymous reviewers This project was funded in part by the US Geological Survey Abandoned Mine Land Initiative and the USDA Forest Service Ray TeSoro project manager

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